`CIVIL WAR' EPIC SETS PBS RECORD

"The Civil War," the epic, 11-hour documentary shown over five nights last week, was the most-watched series in the history of the Public Broadcasting Service, PBS officials said Friday.

"It's been a glorious week for public television," said Jennifer Lawson, PBS vice president for national programming.PBS said "The Civil War" was seen in about 14 million homes each evening. Overall, the documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns averaged a 9.0 rating and a 13 share. Its concluding episode Thursday night, drew an 8.9 rating and a 14 share, according to A.C. Nielsen Co. figures.

A ratings point represents 931,000 television households, and a share is a percentage of all television sets tuned in to a show in its time period.